
Like the lady, we as humans often live our lives with caution and safety so the depiction of four grey walls and towers fits well in representing a dull bubble that we have created for ourselves to stay alive and afloat in the world. In this stanza, the common man/woman is introduced through the character of the Lady of Shalott.

“Little breezes” of our hopes and dreams travel down to Camelot, to add to the world that we want to reach so desperately in our own ways. The winter represents the chilly nature of the events that will unfold in the rest of the poem as well as the bitter cold that awaits us outside our comfort zones. Here, we start to grasp the mood that Tennyson is creating for the story he’s about to tell. This depiction is in obvious high contrast with the flowers and eye-catching view of Camelot that is surrounding her. The Lady of Shalott is described to be sheltered in a building or structure, which is described to have four grey walls and towers and is located on a lifeless island. The island is finally given some attention, as the introduction to the Lady of Shalott surfaces. It also mentions the “little breezes” that run through the waves of the river near the island of Shalott, which flows towards Camelot. This stanza shifts the imagery in the direction of winter with snowy white willows, and aspen trees that “quiver” in the cold. So the comfort zones and rules that we create for ourselves that no one else really pays attention to, are without much difficulty represented by Shalott in this poem. It is a place that people merely notice in passing. Shalott, however, can just as easily represent the bubble that we as individuals create for ourselves. Each individual has their own Camelot and every tower within symbolizes the desires and hopes that they would love to reach one day. There are roads that lead to a life of opportunity for every person.
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Camelot can effortlessly represent the dream of any and every person: a world full of life and opportunities, even the roads to which look attractive and inviting. We are introduced to two high contrasting places: Camelot and Shalott.

Tennyson uses the opening stanza of his poem to really set the tone for the rest of the poem. Shalott, on the other hand, is mentioned almost as if in passing and is portrayed as just a place that is merely noticed by people on their journey to and fro Camelot. The road to which, is full of natural beauty and the constant flow of people traveling in and out. We, as readers are given a vivid image of the beautiful mainland of Camelot. The opening stanza of this poem is introducing the two most important places that are present in this narrative: Camelot, and Shalott. The Lady of Shalott Analysis Part I Stanza 1

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This analysis of The Lady of Shalott contains all four parts to the poem. Click the below links to read any parts of the poem with summaries and analysis.įeel free to also view more of Alfred Tennyson’s poems analysed.
